Anime Festival Asia is pulling out all the stops with a massive lineup of anime, cosplay, gaming, and concerts hitting Thailand this May.

Anime Festival Asia Thailand 2026 (#AFATH26) is set to return to Bangkok on May 30-31, 2026, at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC). The highly anticipated event will bring together fans and industry leaders to celebrate Japanese pop culture in full force, featuring anime, cosplay, and gaming.

Saturday's artist lineup, organized by Crunchyroll, is nothing short of extraordinary. The event features renowned artists performing hit songs, with most making their Thailand debut:

HIMEHINA: Owner of the viral hit "Heart Pie Dancehall" Shouta Aoi: Voice actor and singer of "Bad End" from the popular anime, making a new appearance as a villain in the dating sim game SPYAIR: Legendary rock band, creators of "Orange" from the anime Haikyuu!! TeddyLoid: Grammy-winning producer who created the soundtrack for Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt

Sunday's lineup promises to be equally spectacular, with doors opening one hour early at 6:00 PM and performances starting at 7:00 PM.

HoneyWorks brings the largest artist ensemble ever assembled for Bangkok, featuring 7 lead vocalists and 4 full band members:

CHiCO (from CHiCO with HoneyWorks), HaKoniwalily, Momoko Hashimoto & Momona Matsumoto (from TAKANE NO NADESHIKO), Rio Nagao & Yura Nishihara (from Karen na Ivory), with Guitar: Oji / Bass: kyo / Keyboard: Keiki Uto / Drums: AtsuyuK!

Also performing: KAF: Renowned Virtual Singer artist, creator of "Kako wo Kurau" kz(livetune): World-class DJ and producer famous for collaborations with Hatsune Miku Reona: Distinctive vocalist featured in the Sword Art Online anime soundtrack

Tickets are now available through Thaiticketmajor at https://bit.ly/AFATH26Tickets

VIP One-Day Pass – 3,750 THB per day Includes: 1 VIP ticket (Saturday or Sunday) with benefits such as numbered seating with the best concert views, a chance to win signed posters from artists, and access to the Exhibition and Next Stage zones for the selected day.

Concert General Admission (GA) Standing Pass – 2,750 THB per day Includes: 1 standing ticket (Saturday or Sunday) with standing zone access for the concert and access to the Exhibition and Next Stage zones for the selected day.

Additionally, separate tickets are available for Exhibition and NEXT STAGE areas, giving all fans the opportunity to enjoy the event. Early bird tickets are limited and available while supplies last.

*Prices do not include booking fees. Please note that the artist lineup may change, and no refunds or exchanges are permitted after purchase.

Anime Festival Asia Thailand 2026 May 30-31, 2026 Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC)

For more details, visit: https://animefestival.asia/afath26/ Facebook: animefestivalasia X: @animefestasia Instagram: @animefestivalasia

On May 6, 2026, Theerarutt Nawamawatthana, Chairman of the Pure Heart Foundation, received a Benefactor Award from Nuarak Mapranet, a senior official of the Thai National Social Welfare Council, during the commemorative event honoring Princess Kalyaniwattana at the council headquarters. The award recognizes supporters of social work and public benefit activities. Theerarutt is recognized as a key figure in advancing social missions through the Pure Heart Foundation's efforts to create opportunities and enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations.

The foundation chairman expressed her deep honor at receiving the award, which she views as important encouragement to continue her social mission. The Pure Heart Foundation has worked with the intention of creating opportunities and improving people's lives in society. She reaffirmed the foundation's commitment to its volunteer role in driving beneficial social activities while promoting collaboration among all sectors to advance sustainable development in the long term.

The event was held to honor the Royal graciousness and underscore the collaborative efforts of organizations across all sectors in advancing social missions. The atmosphere reflected the spirit of Royal appreciation and demonstrated the collective strength in continuing social activities.

Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026Dates: November 1, 2026 – March 14, 2027Location: Nong Daet Wetland, Udon Thani, Thailand  Spanning over 1,030 rai, this mega-event operates und...

A cancer patient hospitalized alone attempts to order a special menu item called 'friendship' through a food delivery app, requesting someone to sit by her bedside and keep her company to ease her loneliness.

The heartwarming story from Guangdong Province, China went viral when 24-year-old Xiao Li, undergoing treatment for a rare blood cancer, placed the special order. Her family had to work full-time to afford her medical expenses, leaving her to spend most of her time alone in the hospital.

On April 15th, while browsing a food delivery app, she decided to place a special order with a note: 'Come sit by my bed and be my friend for 2 hours.'

One delivery rider accepted the order and not only visited her but also brought fruit and flowers. He then shared her story with other riders in their group, inspiring them to visit Xiao Li. Some brought fruit and milk, while others even rearranged their work schedules to come chat with her.

'She had no family by her side, so I felt sympathetic and wanted to visit,' said Chen, one of the visitors.

After the story spread online, Xiao Li received encouragement from many people, including police officers and cancer survivors who had recovered. This outpouring of kindness deeply moved her, and she said: 'I received encouragement from many people, and I'm very grateful for their friendship.'

Source: AsiaOne Edited by Fresh News Online Team

Isan Creative Festival 2026Dates: July 11 - 19, 2026 Location: Khon Kaen (TCDC Khon Kaen, Central Khon Kaen Campus, Srichan Creative District, KICE, and various Isan locations)  Now in its 6th ...

APE X CRYPTO founder and CEO Kanth Khloawutnunt organized the Thailand Digital Asset Leadership Forum: Road to SEABW 2026 to demonstrate public-private sector cooperation and confirm Thailand's readiness across all dimensions—technology, regulations, and human capital—with the goal of building Asia's strongest digital asset ecosystem and advancing the country's economy. The event serves as international communication showing Thailand's progress and successful real-world projects, highlighting Thai professionals' skills in globally demanded fields that will drive sustainable digital economic growth and potentially attract foreign investment and employment opportunities in Thailand.

Thailand's digital asset regulatory framework, overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission, is recognized as one of the most comprehensive digital asset ecosystems globally, with clear legal standards comparable to international norms. The SEC's recent initiatives include opening mechanisms like Crypto Futures and providing five-year regulatory exemptions for cryptocurrency innovation to support Thai entrepreneurs' adaptation and growth amid global market changes.

Hojin Kim, CEO of ShardLab (a joint venture between Hashed and SCBX), noted that while South Korea leads in Web3 project development, Southeast Asia and Thailand specifically show significant potential. Developer numbers in Southeast Asia grew 30% last year, exceeding global averages, and Bangkok ranks among the best cities for technology and investment, with readiness in both talent and innovation-friendly environment benefiting not only Thai citizens but also 1.5 million foreign residents, tourists, and Korean entrepreneurs in Thailand.

ShardLab is organizing Southeast Asia's blockchain festival May 20-21 in Bangkok as part of SEABW 2026, showcasing local projects to global audiences while introducing regional people to emerging Web3 technologies. While South Korea benefits from more practitioners, Bangkok's higher global accessibility, greater tourist numbers, and larger foreign population provide distinct advantages in reaching worldwide target markets.